(PR.co.nz) Fifty people, representing 25 of Dunedin’s ethnic communities in Dunedin, attended the first meeting of ‘Settling In’ facilitators, an unprecedented level of interest in the programme from migrant communities nationally.
“It was a huge success,” DCC Settlement Support Co-ordinator Fi McKay says.
“It brought local migrant groups together to offer a focus on local issues that ethnic communities face when settling into a new city. We know there are other ethnic communities in the city that weren’t represented and we would love for them to get on board too.”
The communities represented were from Samoa, Italy, Sri Lanka, China, Tokelau, Tonga, Korea, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, India, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Muslim Association, Africa, Thailand, Cambodia, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, South Africa, Iraq, Germany and Zimbabwe.
The ‘Settling In’ programme is a collaborative effort between the DCC, MSD and local agencies, and complements the support offered by the DCC’s Settlement Support Co-ordinator. It aims to collaboratively identify social service needs in refugee and migrant communities and then purchase or develop capacity, skills and knowledge to meet those needs.
Statistics indicate that a common reason skilled migrants leave their new city is because their families are unable to settle and build the social networks they need to live comfortably.
MSD Settling In Project Manager, Brigid Ryan says, “We focus on social services and the harder to reach migrants. This programme helps communities find out what their needs are and to give them an opportunity to voice their suggestions. It’s an opportunity for people to have their say and to shape the way they live in Dunedin.”
Media Release 2 November 2010 from Dunedin City Council.